In an institutional editorial, the Bangladeshi newspaper said repatriation must include citizenship, freedom of movement, security guarantees and protection from renewed persecution.
by RK Desk
DHAKA, 17 August 2026: Bangladesh’s The Daily Star has urged Myanmar’s military junta to create credible conditions for the voluntary, safe and dignified return of Rohingya refugees, while questioning the junta’s latest verification figures and its handling of the repatriation process.
In an institutional editorial published on 16 August under the headline “Create conditions for safe return of Rohingya,” the newspaper said Myanmar must address fundamental questions over citizenship, security and rights rather than simply promise to receive refugees once conditions in Rakhine State improve.
Bangladesh submitted a list of 828,824 Rohingya refugees to Myanmar for verification. The junta has said that, by the end of July, it had reviewed 426,545 cases and verified 308,797 people as former residents of Rakhine State.
The junta has also claimed that more than 540,000 Rohingya crossed into Bangladesh following the 2017 military crackdown, while more than 200,000 remained in northern Rakhine.
The Daily Star questioned those figures and said Bangladesh was justified in seeking greater clarity over Myanmar’s verification process.
The editorial argued that the central issue is not simply how many Rohingya Myanmar is prepared to recognise as former residents, but whether they can return in conditions that protect their rights, security and dignity.
Citizenship and Security Must Be Guaranteed
The newspaper said Myanmar should go beyond stating that verified Rohingya could return once security conditions improve.
It called for clear guarantees covering citizenship, security, freedom of movement, access to basic services and protection from renewed persecution.
The editorial also criticised Myanmar’s continued use of the term “Bengali” to describe Rohingya, arguing that the denial of Rohingya identity remains closely connected to their exclusion from citizenship and legal recognition.
It said any future repatriation process must be voluntary, transparent and credible, with safeguards strong enough to ensure that returnees are not again subjected to persecution or displacement.
Growing Pressure in Bangladesh
The editorial also highlighted the growing pressure on Bangladesh, which is hosting more than 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, including children born in the country.
It pointed to declining international humanitarian funding and worsening conditions in the camps, including gender-based violence, forced marriage, exploitation, psychological distress and security concerns.
The newspaper said Bangladesh has carried a major humanitarian, economic and environmental burden since the mass displacement of Rohingya in 2017, while international support has weakened.
It urged the Myanmar junta to work with Bangladesh, the United Nations and humanitarian organisations to establish clear, verifiable and rights-based conditions for sustainable Rohingya return.
The editorial concluded that repatriation should not be reduced to verification figures or diplomatic announcements, but must ensure that Rohingya can return with citizenship, rights, security and dignity.
